‘City region’ post pays a cool £137k

ATOP job to develop a ‘city region’ in Gloucestershire is being advertised, and will pay the successful candidate as much as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earns.

The ‘city region’ forms part of the Gloucestershire Vision 2050 – a project unveiled in 2018 – and would be on land between Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

The new post-holder could earn more than Gloucestershire County Council’s chief executive, Peter Bungard, and almost the same as Mr Corbyn, at up to £137,005.

Mr Bungard was paid £131,036 last year. Mr Corbyn earns £137,402 as an MP and Labour leader.

A job advert published online states the county council is looking for a director of economy and infrastructure to “develop an exciting new city region across a county with outstanding potential”.

The role would involve overseeing the 2050 Vision and developing jobs, housing and the transport infrastructure to support the growth of the local economy in the city region.

While the successful candidate would be paid up to £137,005, the

salary bracket starts at £118,000. The county council said the salary reflected trying to “attract the best possible candidates”.

The advert reads: “The Gloucestershire 2050 vision is all about growth. Growth of the economy by developing jobs, housing and the transport infrastructure to develop an exciting new city region across a county with outstanding potential.

“Your role as director of economy and infrastructure would be to bring this vision to life – a role that will be both interesting and challenging, requiring ambition, innovation and resilience.

“The range of partners and stakeholders are wide and varied as there will be conversations with neighbouring authorities and the LEP in addition to lobbying central government.

“Relationship management will be fundamental and extend to the districts in relation to housing development and the spatial strategy.

“We are looking for someone who will quickly understand the Gloucestershire context and be able to work with a variety of partners in a high profile-high interest role.”

A spokeswoman for the county council said: “The county council runs vital services that protect the most vulnerable, and we have a crucial job to play in growing our economy, protecting local jobs and fighting climate change.

“This role is key to making sure we

We need to attract the

best possible candidates… and the

salary reflects this COUNCIL SPOKESWOMAN

can do that, whilst maintaining our record of delivering some of the lowest council tax of any county council.

“We need to attract the best possible candidates to lead that important work and the salary reflects this and is in keeping with similar roles in both the private and public sector.”